Knows this will lead to Crucifixion (did he know the future by divine power, or simply understand there were consequences of his actions)

“Taken Up” - Jesus will not die, but will be united with God in heaven

Like Moses and Elijah (transfiguration was shortly before this)

Either way, his mission took him to Jerusalem, so he went

Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace. Cheap grace is grace … without costs. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living incarnate Jesus Christ… . Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which has to be asked for, the door at which one has to knock. It is costly, because it calls to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs people their lives; it is grace because it thereby makes them live.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001), 43-45

Importance of seeing- Elisha must see the power of God in order to become the prophet

Seeing the power of God reveals the illusion of human power

The unique call of the prophet, in this context, is to open the nation's eyes to the illusory nature of Pharaoh's power and the ultimate reality of YHWH's. In order to do so, however, the prophet must be equipped with the penetrating vision that is required to perceive YHWH's supreme power and authority through Pharaoh's thick smoke screen. - Trevor Eppenheimer - Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 3: Pentecost and Season After Pentecost 1 (Propers 3-16).

Can the church see the power of God or is it blinded by the power of Pharaohs and Kings